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Earth Science; Ocean Basins Quiz

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

 1. 
A large body of saline water that may be surrounded by land is a(n)
a.
submersible.
c.
global ocean
b.
ocean.
d.
sea.
 

 2. 
How much of Earth’s total mass is the global ocean?
a.
97%
c.
1/4,000
b.
1/2
d.
1/800
 

 3. 
Scientists use sonar to
a.
measure the temperature of ocean water.
b.
calculate the depth of the ocean floor.
c.
photograph ocean organisms.
d.
obtain samples from the ocean floor.
 

 4. 
To see the bottom of the ocean for himself or herself while remaining connected to a research ship, a scientist would use
a.
a submarine robot.
c.
sonar.
b.
a bathysphere.
d.
a bathyscaph.
 

 5. 
The flattest regions on Earth are
a.
trenches.
c.
mid-ocean ridges.
b.
seamounts.
d.
abyssal plains.
 

 6. 
Seamounts are most likely to form in
a.
tablemounts.
c.
fracture zones.
b.
hot spots.
d.
trenches.
 

 7. 
Most mid-ocean ridges form
a.
below sea level.
c.
in areas of increased volcanic activity.
b.
in trenches.
d.
along fracture zones.
 

 8. 
The deepest place in Earth’s crust is a(n)
a.
abyssal plain.
c.
trench.
b.
seamount.
d.
submarine canyon.
 

 9. 
An atoll will eventually become a(n)
a.
seamount.
c.
fracture zone.
b.
guyot.
d.
mid-ocean ridge.
 

 10. 
A piece of sediment collected by drilling is a(n)
a.
inorganic sediment.
c.
core sample.
b.
biogenic sediment.
d.
diatom.
 

 11. 
Meteorite dust is one kind of
a.
nodule.
c.
ooze.
b.
inorganic sediment.
d.
core sample.
 

 12. 
Sediments from rivers spread over the deep-ocean basins by means of
a.
icebergs.
c.
wind.
b.
chemical reactions.
d.
turbidity currents.
 

 13. 
The silica in biogenic sediments comes mainly from
a.
diatoms and radiolarians.
c.
nodules.
b.
foraminiferans.
d.
calcium carbonate.
 

 14. 
Most siliceous ooze is found near Antarctica because
a.
red clay is common there.
b.
the ocean waters contain large amounts of diatoms and radiolarians.
c.
silicon dioxide dissolves in cold water.
d.
there are many foraminiferans there.
 

 15. 
The soft, fine material that covers about 40% of the ocean floor is
a.
mud.
c.
ooze.
b.
red clay.
d.
biogenic sediment.
 

 16. 
Biogenic sediments come from
a.
oxides of minerals.
c.
silt and clay.
b.
marine plants and animals.
d.
glaciers and icebergs.
 

 17. 
The first step in a sonar transmission is to
a.
measure the timing of sound waves.
b.
make maps and profiles of the ocean floor.
c.
send out a series of sound waves.
d.
bounce sound waves off the ocean floor.
 

 18. 
Which is NOT a tool used by scientists to study the deep ocean?
a.
drilling ship
c.
seamount
b.
bathyscaph
d.
sonar
 

 19. 
Sediment found close to a Pacific shore would most likely be
a.
coarse gravel.
c.
nodules.
b.
siliceous ooze.
d.
red clay.
 

 20. 
To calculate the depth of the ocean floor with sonar, scientists measure
a.
the volume of sound waves.
b.
the length of sound waves.
c.
the distance sound waves travel.
d.
the time it takes sound waves to travel.
 

 21. 
The Mariana Trench is best known for its
a.
length.
c.
height.
b.
depth.
d.
volcanic activity.
 

Short Answer; Answer only 2 questions.  Worth 2 pts each.
 

 22. 
What advantage do submarine robots have over bathyscaphs and bathyspheres?
 

 23. 
How does volcanic dust become part of deep-ocean sediment?
 

 24. 
Where is the boundary between the continental crust and the oceanic crust located?
 

 25. 
A scientist finds a sediment sample containing silica. Is the sediment biogenic or inorganic?
 

 26. 
A scientist finds ooze on the ocean floor at a depth of 6 km. Is it calcareous ooze or siliceous ooze?
 

 27. 
If you were a scientist identifying deep-ocean features, how would you tell the difference between a seamount and an atoll?
 

Essay; answer only 1 question.  Worth 4 pts extra credit.
 

 28. 
An oceanographer finds the remains of a particular fish in the deep-ocean basin of the Pacific Ocean. This fish is known to live only in a particular river in China. Explain how the remains ended up on the ocean floor.
 

 29. 
A survivor of a shipwreck finds himself on a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean. After several years, the island seems to be sinking and growing smaller. Explain what kind of island the person is probably on and what is happening to it.
 

 30. 
Briefly describe the history of oceanography.
 

Problem; worth 1 pt extra credit each.  Show your math to receive credit.
 

 31. 
The total area of Earth is approximately 511,000,000 km2. The total area of the Pacific Ocean is approximately 155,557,000 km2. What percentage of Earth’s surface is covered by the Pacific Ocean?
 

 32. 
Sound waves travel about 1,500 m/s through sea water. Suppose a sound wave travels from the ocean floor back to a sonar receiver on the ocean’s surface in 2.5 seconds. What is the depth of the ocean floor at this location?
 

 33. 
The area of the Pacific Ocean is approximately 155,557,000 km2. The area of the Arctic Ocean is approximately 14,056,000 km2. About how many times larger is the Pacific than the Arctic?
 

 34. 
The deepest part of the Mariana Trench is 11,034 m deep. The Empire State Building is about 430 m tall. How many Empire State Buildings would it take to reach the surface of the ocean from the bottom of the Mariana Trench?
 



 
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